Key mechanism for calculating-machines.



H. W. CLEMENT.

KEY MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED DBO. 18, 1911. 1,044,020.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

- Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

NGMW 2 mg mm x 5 km N.

. w mm a Mm wow mm QN M H. W. CLEMENT.

KEY MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES,

APPLICATION FILED D3018, 1911. 1,044,020. Patented NOV. 12,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEE$ Z.

HENRY W. CLEMENT, 0F RU'ILAND, VERMONT.

KEY MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

Application filed December 18, 1911. Serial No. 666,365.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, HENRY \V. CLEMENT, a citizen of the. United States, residingat Rutland, county of Rutlaud, and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved Key Mechanism for Calculating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel key mechanism for calculating machines which operates in such a manner that the depression of any one key willautomatically raise any previously depressed key without the use of springs or similar lift-ing means.

The invention is well applicable to calculating machines of various constructions, an example of a machine to which the invention may be applied being illustrated in Patent No. 972,360 issued to Julius Graber October 11th, 1910.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure. 1 is a vertical transverse section showing my improved key mechanism connected to a calculating machine; Fig. :2 a horizontal seetion on line Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an enlarged vertical section on line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a similar section on line 44, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 an enlarged horizontal section on line 5-5, Fig. 1; Fig. (3 an enlarged cross section on line 6(' Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 a cross section on line 7-7, Fig. 4 with the forked lever omitted.

The calculating machine in conjunction With which my improved key mechanism is intended to be operated comprises essentially a series of toothed sectors 10 inclosed in a casing 11 a squared shaft- 15 upon which is slidable a pinion 16 adapted to be engaged by said sector. Shaft. 15 in turn is opera 'ely connected to the ciphering mech'a proper, the result of the calculations: formed being displayed through the windows 17 of a carriage 18, all as fully ideseribed in the above. cited patent. i

The key mechanism which constitutes the subiect matter of this invention is arranged within a casing 15) which is either made integral with casing 11 or may be attached thereto in suitable manner. Cooperating with each pinion there is a row of keys 9.0 containing ten keys which are labeled from 0 to 9 as illustrated in Fig. 2. Keys 20 are I provided with shanks 21 that slidably en gage corresponding apertures of cover 22 and of a horizontal guide oil 23 rigidly mounted within casing 11. Attheir lower extremities, key shanks 21 are provided with wedge-shaped enlargements 2+1, the tapering edges 25, 26 of which are adapted to engage pins 27 projecting laterally from a slide 2.8, two of such pins being provided for each key excepting for the zero key which cooperates with but. one pin. Slide 28 is shown to be made dovetailed in cross section and is guided within a correspondingly shaped way "29 of a rib 30 secured to the bottom of casing 1.9. The edges 25, 26 of key shanks 21 are so shaped that each key when depressed engages either of its cooperating pins 27 and thereby sets slide 28 to a difierent position, the corresponding movement of the slide being transmitted to pinion 16 in the following manner: One of the pins 27 is prolonged as at 31 to be received within a corresponding slotv 3-2 of a lever 33 pivoted to casing 15) at 31. At its free end lever 33 is made integral with a fork 35, the slotted prongs of which accommodate the studs 36 extending in diametrically opposite directions from a ring 37. The latter is loosely mounted upon a spindle 38 between a pair of collars 39 screwed on said spindle, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and T. Spindle 38 is slidably received within a corresponding axial hole of squared shaft 15 and is connected to pinion 1G by a pin 40 passing through slots 11 of shaft 15.

The keys 20 are so connected with'e-ach other, that but one keynnay be depressed ata time, while the depression of another key automatically raises the previously lowered key. In this way all springs for raising depressed keys are dispensed with, thereby increasing the reliability of the mechanism to a substantial degree.

The means for operatively connecting the keys are shown to consist of a chain having a plurality of links 42, one pair of such links being provided for each key as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. The terminal links 42 are pivoted at 43 to webs 44 depending from cover 22 while the pins 45 connecting the links of adjoining pairs are prolongated be yond both sides of said links and are slidably guided in horizontal slots 16 of webs 44 (Figs. 1 and 5). The pivots 47 connecting the links of each pair extend in but one direction beyond said links and here engage the lower side of abutments 48 extending laterally from the key-shanks 2 1. The combined length of all links 42 exceeds somewhat the distance between pivots 43,so that always one link-pair is partly collapsed, while the remaining link-pairs extend in arectilinear direction. Thus in Fig. 1, the link-pair co-- operating with the nine-key 2O is partly key is depressed, the cooperating pair of links 42 will be collapsed thereby straightening out the previously collapsed links cooperating with the nine-key 20. During the descent of key 20- its beveled edge 25 will en age the corresponding pin 27 thereby shifting slide 28 toward the left (Fig. 1) to such an extent that pinion 16 will be brought into alincinent with that section of sector 10 which comprises three teeth. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the lower extremities of the key-shanks 21 are differently configurated, the inclination of the converging edges .25, .26 being so calculated that upon the depression of the several keys, the pinion 16 is so set, as to cotiperate with the corresponding sections of sector 10.

It will be .seen that by the construction described, novel and eflective key actuated means are provided for setting pinion 16 relatively to sector 10, said means being so constructed that all springs are obviated and that the previously depressed key is automatically raised upon the depression of another key in the same row, so that a 'reliable working is insured.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a plurality of keys arranged in rows, a chain having links arranged in pairs, pivots connecting the links of each pair and engaged by the keys, pins connecting the links of a joining liiik-paii-s, guides for said pins, and fixed pivots for the terminal links of the chain, the distance between said pivots being less than the rggregate length of the chainl'lIlkS;

2. In a device of the character described,

a plurality of keys arranged in rows, a chain having links arranged in pairs, slotted \vebs flanking said chain, pivots connecting the links of each pair and engaged by the keys. pins engaging tlie web-slots and connecting the links of adjoining link-pairs. and fixed pivots for the terminal links of the chain, the distance between said fixed punts being less than the aggregate length of the chain-links.

3. In a device of the character described, a plurality of keys arranged in rows, stems depending from said keys, abutments on the stems, a chain having links arranged" in pairs, pivots connecting. thelinks of each pair and engaged .by the abutinents pins connecting the links of adjoini link-pairs, guides for said pins, and fixed pivotsfor the terminal links of the chain, the. distante between. said fixed pivots being less than the aggregate lengtlrof the chain-links, J

t. In a device'of the character described, a plurality of keys arranged in rows, stems depending from said keys. and having in- I clined lower edges, a slide cooperating with; said or ges, a slidable pinion, and means for .operatively connecting said slide and'piiiiom 5. In a device of the character described,

a plurality of keys arranged in rows, stems depending from said keys and having in-' (lined lower edges, a slide cotiperatin with said edges, a lever actuated by said sli e and a pinion. operatively connected to said lever.

'6. In adevice of. the character described, a plurality of keys arranged in rows, stems depending from said keys and having in elined lower edges, a slide coiiperatinwith said edges, a lever actuated by said s ide, a hollow slotted shaft, a pinion slidable thereon; a spindle encompassed by the shaft'and operatively'connected to the lever, and means passing through the shaft-slot for connect-.

ing said pinion and spindle. v

7. In a device of the character described, a pluralitycf keys arranged in rows, stems depending from said keys and having inclined loweredges, a slide cooperating with said edges, a. lever actuated by said slide and having a forked end. a studded ring engaged by said end, a spindle to which said ring is rotatably and non-slidably secured, a'hollow slotted shaft accommodating the spindle, a pinion slidable on the shaft, and means passing through the shaft-slot for connecting said pinion and spindle.

8. In a device of the character-described, a plurality of keys arranged in rows, stems depending from said keys and having in-v clined lower edges, a slide having pins that are adapted to be engaged by saidedges, a

pinion, and means for operatively connecting said slide and pinion.

9. In a device of the character described,

a plurality of keys arranged in rows, stems depending from said keys and having differently inclined lower edges. a slide having pins that are adapted to be engaged by said edges, a pinion. and means for operatively connecting said slide and pinion.

HENRY IV. CLEMENT. Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. ZUMPE, KA'riinnYNn lie-"ii. 

